Resurgent Arsenal target Chelsea's dominance in new WSL season

MANCHESTER, England :The Women's Super League season promises to be one of the most transformative yet - both on and off the pitch - with sweeping structural changes, record-breaking investment and a fierce title race that could finally see Chelsea dethroned.

Arsenal, fresh off an historic Champions League victory over Barcelona in May, enter the new campaign with momentum, belief, and a clear mission to end Chelsea's domestic dominance.

Arsenal, who have not hoisted the league trophy since 2019, have long been chasing their London rivals, winners of six successive WSL titles, but last season's European triumph has shifted the narrative. 

"As soon as you win something as big as (the Champions League), there is a target on your back," Arsenal defender Steph Catley told the BBC. "There is an expectation that you should go on and do amazing things. Domestically, we haven't won nearly as much as we probably could have and we probably should have.

"There are really no excuses. We have the team. We have everything in place. It's about putting it together on the field and matching up to those expectations."

Chelsea, however, will not relinquish their crown easily. Sonia Bompastor's side host Manchester City on Friday, setting the tone for a blockbuster WSL opening weekend.

"I wouldn't say there will be a big difference from last season," Bompastor recently told reporters. "This season, we will go further and in more detail on what we were trying to achieve last season.

"Last season was about getting to know each other on the pitch," added the manager, who replaced Emma Hayes at the beginning of last season. "Now, we are in a better position to go into the details of how we want to work together."

Manchester City, who have a new manager